It’s time to get my revenge...

4 years ago I embarked on the 100K London to Brighton Challenge for Mind. I’ve always been a keen walker and have always been up for a hiking challenge for charity having previously taken part (and finished) such events as the Yorkshire Three Peaks and 24 Hour UK Three Peaks Challenges respectively.

However, 2016 was a little different. I’d gotten up bright and early to kick start the trek in Richmond Park and all was going well for the first couple of hours. I was making good pace, I was feeling okay and I was enjoying the pleasant views of Outer London. Then we got to mile 17/60. Agony. My knee went. Well I’ve never known pain quite like it before and for the next 8 miles time felt like it had stopped still. I knew I was done, it was just when I could feasibly stop... I managed to get to a meeting point at around 25 miles and after a little wait I got a lift to the train station and made my way down to Brighton to meet Alice and my folks who helped a hobbling me back to the hotel where I could wallow in my own self-pitty. The next few days included me hobbling around Brighton and telling myself I wanted another crack at it.

4 years on and I’m back, this time with Alice joining me for the ride. With my knee in mind we’ve decided to go for the 1/2 challenge - which is a 35 mile (56K) day challenge - and I’m determined this time my ol’ right knee won’t give in and I can, in some fashion, lay the demons of four years ago to rest.

Both myself and Alice have chosen Mind because mental heath is a cause close to our own hearts. We’ve both individually and within our family circles seen and felt the effects of what poor mental health can do. Mind do brilliant work on supporting people - young and old - with their mental health and it’s always an honour to represent them.

Thank you for taking the time to read our little bio. Any donation you can make is greatly appreciated and goes to support a brilliant cause.

Much love,

Matt and Alice xx